Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-21
MIKE.
Iora Mcdonald.

Nobody would take little Mike Mark
ham for heroine, nor would one sup
pose that little quiet figure possessed
nerve enough to save hundreds of lives
by her prompt action, but this was the
way Of it: 1t was hot summer after
noon, and the most absolute quiet reign
ed over the little railroad station of
Parkerstown, up in Northern New
England, on these sweltering July days.
Not even the customary loafers were
there any show of life.
The down-train was due at 5:10, but
until then, as the sensational writers
say, "all was quiet as the grave"
Mike was the station agents daugh-
ter and only child, She was Is, al
though so small she looked three years
younger, and was usually quiet as
mouse-"not much zip to her." as the
country folks said. In spite of the cur
rent opinion, however, she had, except
the small portion Of time which the lit
tie country town set apart for the school
season, spent nearly all of her time in
the ticket-office with her father, pick
ing up, letter by letter and word by
word, the sounds of the Morse instru-
ment; and, finally, one day she aston
ished her father by taking telegram
by sound, giving him neat copy"
From that day Mike was installed as
telegraph operator. and the lndulgent
father often said ''Nick could run that
Office jest as well as he could himself
which, considering that Mr.. Mark
ham was considered by the boys "a
plug operators" might be called doubt
full compliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon we are
talking about, the aforesaid ''plug"
sauntered into the depot with trouble
enthroned on his majestic brow.
'Nick, I'm summoned on jury case
up to the Centre Village this afternoon.
It's too late to get anybody here, even
s'posing there was anybody to get.
What are we going to do about itP
S'pose you can tend the concern alone
until l get back-probably by 81"
II guess SO, father" replied Mike.
There won't be much of anything to
do. Likely there won't be many pas
sengers for the down train this hot day,
and hope l know enough to sell a
ticket or two if there are"
"Well, see that those boxes 20 by ex-
press. The waybills are ready and in
the drawer-guess you'll get along all
right"-and off he went, leaving Mike
mistress of the situation-which phase
meant more than you might imagine.
that very particular day.
At first she felt her newly-acquired
Importance somewhat and stepped
briskly around, dusting the musty little
office and watering the few plants in
the window, but there being absolutely
nothing to do and no one coming near,
she dropped into inactivity and listened
to the click of the telegraph instrument
which to her was as companionable as
the talk of near friends would be. As
the ,.,ernoon passed drowsily along
the heat and stiffness overcame her,
and dropping her faxen head on the
desk before her, she was soon-as one
Of the good ladies Of Parkerstown was
wont to express tin the arms OF
Morphine"
Afterwards, the first thing she could
remember about it, voice seeming to
come from her dreams said: ""Tsint
likely she is left here alone, and asleep.
too"
NO." responded another evil voice,
''the old mans prob'ly round some
where-but," in a lower tone. "come
on, let's 90 long The down train III
be along and we'll just lay 'em out
Mike was wide awake enough now,
but she had presence Of mind in her
small body, and realized that safety lay
In keeping still
'.How fur is It up there?"
ASH Keep mum. Do you want to
knock the hull thing in the head, and
yourself tooP" And then the girls
quickened hearing caught the sound Of
heavy footsteps passing BY the window
and on up the track
Mike waited until she couldn't hear
the footsteps and then cautiously turned
and looked out Of the window. There
they were = two miserable-looking
tramps Fastening up the track. She
recognized them at once as two men
who had been discharged from a con-
struction-train that had been at work
down the road. What should she doP
o, If she could send for her father! But
there was no one anywhere near, and.
besides, by the time he could get homo
Il might be too laie-for 1t was evident
that the desperate wretches were bent
upon revenRing themselves Of their
fancied wrongs upon the innocent She
looked at the clock. Halfpast Al She
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